Arizona vs Houston basketball live updates: Big 12 championship score, highlights

The foregone conclusion has finally become reality for the 2026 men’s Big 12 Tournament.

The top two teams in the conference, No. 2 Arizona and No. 5 Houston, will face off for conference supremacy in the Big 12 Championship on Saturday, March 14.

REQUIRED READING: March Madness predictions: Who gets final 1-seed, UConn or Florida?

The top-seeded Wildcats defeated No. 8 seed Central Florida and No. 5 seed Iowa State 81-59 and 82-80, respectively, to make their way to the Big 12 Championship. No. 2-seed Houston, meanwhile, defeated No. 10 seed Brigham Young and No. 3 seed Kansas by scores of 73-66 and 56-47, respectively, to reach the title game.

Follow along live as USA Today Sports provides live updates, scores and highlights from the 2026 Big 12 Championship:

Houston’s furious comeback attempt falls short, as Arizona avenges last year’s Big 12 Championship loss against the Cougars with a 79-74 win. Arizona is your Big 12 champion, a day before it is officially labeled a 1 seed in the 2026 men’s NCAA Tournament. Koa Peat is the Big 12 Championship Player of the Game with 21 points and six rebounds.

Motiejus Krivas hits a pair of must-have free throws to extend Arizona’s lead to 77-72 with 22 seconds left. On the opposite end, Koa Peat fouls out with 21 points and the Wildcats nursing a five-point lead with 13.1 seconds to play.

Houston hits a pair of timely 3s with Mercy Miller and Milos Uzan to make it 75-72 Arizona. The Wildcats take a timeout with 48.5 seconds left in the game.

Trailing 73-66 with 1:31 left to play, Houston loses one of its best 3-point weapons as Emanuel Sharp fouls out with 10 points. Arizona is starting to clamp down late.

Ivan Kharchenkov is doing his part to help Arizona win the Big 12 Championship with a 3-pointer, made field goal and two made free throws. He has the Wildcats’ last seven points. The Wildcats lead 69-62 with 3:56 remaining.

It’s game on in the Big 12 Championship game. Houston goes on an incredible 14-0 run that’s finally stopped by a Brayden Burries and-1. Houston has a chance to make it 62-58 but this is far from the blowout it was shaping up to be.

Houston’s mounting somethign of a comeback, pulling to within five points of the Wildcats with 9:32 minutes left to play off a 10-0 run. Several Wildcats players are in foul trouble as well, as Koa Peat and Tobe Awaka have four fouls apiece. Motiejus Krivas has three fouls.

It’s all Arizona in the second half, as the Wildcats now hold a 12-point lead at the under-12 timeout following a Houston 3-pointer. It will be Cougars ball out of the timeout.

It took over 3 minutes into the second half, but Houston finally scores its first basket from a Chase McCarty 3-pointer. Houston will need a lot more of that to get back into this, as Arizona leads 53-39 with 15:49 left in the game.

Potentially significant update in the Big 12 Championship, as Big 12 Player of the Year Jaden Bradley appears to hurt his left wrist as Emanuel Sharp is called for the foul, his third of the game. He leaves the game and heads to the locker room.

Arizona opens the second half with a 4-0 run, forcing Sampson to take his second timeout with 18:13 to play. There is some frustration brewing on the Cougars’ sideline.

Here’s a look at the halftime stats with Arizona holding a 44-36 lead:

• Field goals: Houston 14 of 28 (50%) | Arizona 15 of 30 (50%)
• 3-pointers: Houston 3 of 9 (33.33%) | Arizona 4 of 9 (44%)
• Free throws: Houston 5 of 6 (83%) | Arizona 10 of 11 (91%)
• Rebounds: Houston 11 | Arizona 11
• Assists: Houston 5 | Arizona 6
• Steals: Houston N/A | Arizona N/A
• Blocks: Houston N/A | Arizona N/A
• Turnovers: Houston 5 | Arizona 2
• Fouls: Houston 10 | Arizona 7
• Largest lead: Houston 2 | Arizona 8
• Percentage of game led: Houston 5% | Arizona 87%

Houston refuses to go away, but Arizona is doing its part in maintaining a somewhat comfortable distance from the Cougars. The Cougars have 44-36 lead with 13.1 seconds in the half, and they have Brayden Burries to thank for it. He has their last 10 points.

Tie ballgame! A tough field goal from Kingston Flemings in the paint knots it up 33-33 with 3:36 left in the first half.

Mercy, Miller. A massive 3-pointer from the sophomore guard makes the score 31-29 in favor of Arizona. Houston makes its last four shots and the pace is beginning to pick up in the Bigt 12 Championship.

And now here’s Houston with a 6-0 run off two made field goals and two made free throws. The Cougars have cut the deficit to 22-20 at the under-8 timeout with 8:00 left to pay in the half.

Wildcats go on a 6-0 run in less than a minute out of the under-12 timeout, growing their lead to 22-14 with 10:25 and forcing Kelvin Sampson to burn his first timeout, down 22-14.

Arizona holds a slim 16-14 lead with 11:39 left in the half. The Wildcats also have a slim shooting lead, going 6-of-12 from the field compared to Houston’s 6-of-13.

Jaden Bradley is off to a hot start, scoring eight of Arizona’s 14 points, including six off two made 3-pointers.

Arizona started the game with a 5-0 run. Houston has since rebounded, so to speak, going on a 7-0 run, capped with a Chris Cenac Jr. 3-pointer at the under-16 timeout.

Koa Peats opens the scoring in the Big 12 Championship with an easy 2-pointer, and we’re off from the T-Mobile Center!

What channel is Arizona vs Houston basketball on today?

The Big 12 Championship will air nationally on ESPN. Streaming options include the ESPN app and Fubo, which offers a free trial.

Arizona vs Houston start time today

• Date: Saturday, March 14
• Time: 6:10 p.m. ET | 5:10 p.m. CT
• Location: T-Mobile Center (Kansas City, Missouri)

The Big 12 Championship is scheduled to tip off at 6:10 p.m. ET (5:10 p.m. local) from the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City on Saturday, March 14.

Arizona vs Houston odds

Odds courtesy of BetMGM on Saturday, March 14

• Odds: Arizona (-1.5)
• Over/under: 138.5
• Moneyline: Arizona (-135) | Houston (+110)